HNHacker News
TopNewBestAskShowJobs

michaelotis

26 karma · joined March 12, 2020

submissionscomments
michaelotis··on Show HN: Procoto – Self-Service RFP Management
Thanks for letting me know. No issues on my end with uBlock and same deal with a few other users I asked to test.

Just to confirm... You're referring to https://procoto.com?

michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Of course!
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Not currently... Still trying to figure out which pieces makes sense to expose to external systems. But the PO and inventory management pieces may make more sense to integrate rather than build out internally. Feel free to shoot me a note if you want to chat further... michael@procoto.com
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Won't deny the intentional opacity. We haven't launched the self-service piece nor firmly defined its features. So definitely haven't solidified pricing yet.

That said, in the interest of giving you a real answer... The numbers we've thrown around for the base package are sub-$100/user/mo and the mid-tier sub-$500/user/mo. Tailored pricing for custom solutions.

michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
100% accurate with all of that. Exactly the challenge we're trying to solve.

We do allow some customization of fields and workflows already, but there's plenty more to come. We want the UX to be similar to that of an Asana or Trello but with the available feature set of a P2P, CLM, VRM.

No integrations on the finance side yet, but it's one of the recurring asks that comes up in conversations and is on our roadmap. We don't want our customers entering cost info twice just as much as they don't want to do it.

Really appreciate the kind words at the end there. It's something I would have loved to have in a past life so trying to make it happen for others.

michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Hey there, no not in the current state... We don't identify vendors for you. Long-term, we'll pool data across industries to help you make those decisions.

Today, the tool tracks your vendor pricing, contract terms, and vendor profile information via sourcing 'projects.' So the app can compare vendors and pricing if the data is available, but it can't outright recommend a vendor with whom you've never interacted.

For your second question... You're asking if the app serves as a POS solution as well? No, but potentially down the line depending on user need. Most of our customers today use the tool for major product/service purchases that are made directly with their vendors.

michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
That's a great question and one we're answering ourselves as we launch the self-service piece. The usability of the app is really similar to an Asana or Trello but still provides similar value to the base version of an enterprise procurement tool. So the goal is to find that sweet spot in the middle with pricing too.
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
You're right and we're in the midst of transitioning to a self-service approach from enterprise. Much more in line with what we're trying to accomplish.
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
That's a great callout and definitely been part of the discussion internally. We'll get a pricing page up there in the near future... Been holding out until we have the self-service version up and running, but you make a good case to openly address it now.
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Reluctant to give a quote without knowing whether there'd be any custom buildout, integrations, etc. If you're interested in learning more and talking pricing, feel free to shoot us a note at info@procoto.com. I'll personally respond and we can take it from there!
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Definitely similar and that's part of the problem. Scout, Ariba, Bonfire, Coupa, Jaggaer, etc. prefer to stay upmarket. Longer sales cycles, onboarding processes, training sessions, and pricier annual agreements.

We're taking a simpler, more user-friendly SaaS approach so that similar tools/processes become more accessible to smaller companies that may not have dedicated procurement functions or the budget for one of the big guys.

michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Thanks for pointing out. Should redirect to a page letting you know our onboarding team will reach out shortly.
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
It does! Thank you. Something we've debated internally. Really good to hear it from a potential user.
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Fair feedback. Just a team of two at the moment and we've prioritized building out a couple of integrations and adding modules to the app. Revamping the UI is on the shortlist too.
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Done. Appreciate the feedback.
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Not today, but we think there's a potential for a marketplace/catalogue type approach in the long-term as we build out both the customer and vendor sides.
michaelotis··on Launch HN: Procoto (YC W21) – Procurement SaaS for SMB
Largely going by FTEs at this point... 50-500 employees